Chassis engaging device for vehicle lifts



Jan. 11, 1949. FR 2,458,986

CHASSIS ENGAGING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE LIFTS 7 Fi d March 19, 1947 9 INVENTOR..

1%? BY Keg Maggy Patented Jan. 11, 1949 CHASSIS ENGAGING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE LIFTS George Frey, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Globe Hoist Company, Des Moines, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application March 19, 1947, Serial No. 735,582

3 Claims.- (01.254-89) This invention relates generally to vehicle lifts and in particular to a device adapted to be carriedon a lift frame structure and including a chassis-engaging member which is movable longitudinally and transversely of said frame structure to an adjusted position.

In the servicing of a passenger bus or the like, the lifting of the bus by engaging its axlesoften times results in parts of the lift being so arranged as to interfere with a complete and free accessibility of a service man to all of the runninggears and apparatus underneath the bus. To overcome this difli-culty many buses are now provided with lift pads or sockets which are usually carried in pairs at opposite ends of the bus frame or chassis. By lifting on the pads the axles are entirely open so that substantially all of the operating parts underneath the bus are able to be removed 'or worked on for servicing and replacement purposes. However, since various types of buses-differ somewhat in their size and construction, and the arrangement of running gears on their under sides, the lift padsare not uniformly mounted, namely, the pads are carried at varying positions both transversely and vertically of the bus chassis.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a chassis-engaging device which is' adjustably movable to accommodate the lift pads on any type bus.

A further object of this invention is 'to provide an improved vehicle lift.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pad-engaging device for a lift which is adjustable longitudinally and transversely of the lift, capable of holding a vehicle against tilting movement, and readily removable from the lift at all positions thereof, so as to eliminate any obstructions above the floor level when the lift is lowered.

A feature of this invention is found in the pro-1 vision of a chassis-engaging device for a lift in which a base member is slidable longitudinally of the lift frame structure and carries an upright bearing for rotatably supporting a horizontaliarm adjacent one of its ends; An-upright member on the other end of the arm is adapted'tobe received within a lift pad orsocket on a vehicle chassis. By virtue of the slidable support of the base on the lift frame structure, and rotatable movement of the arm through three hundred and sixty degrees, the upright member is completely adjustable longitudinally and transversely of the frame structure to provide for its movement to a pad-engaging position.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken'in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front lift of a two-post vehicle hoist showing the assembly therewith of the chassis engaging device of this invention, and the support on the device of a bus chassis.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lift and chassis-engaging device assembly in Fig. 1 in lowered position; and v Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2'.

With reference tothe drawings, the chassisengaging devices of this invention, indicated generally as ID, are illustrated in assembly relation with the front lift ofa two-post bus hoist. It is to be understood that similar devices It may be assembled in a like manner with the rear lift of the hoist.

The front lift is shown in the drawings as including a lift piston H, operated in a usual manner,. and provided with a head structure or saddle member .12 (Figs. land 2) having a pair of oppositely arranged longitudinally extended frame members l3 of an I-beam construction. A pitopening M (Fig. 2), formed in the floor It, is of a substantially H-shape and of a size adapted to receive the head structure l2 and frame members l3 at positions level with the floor when the lift is in its lowered position. The rear ends ll of the frame members I 3, at a lowered position of the'lift, are spaced forwardly from the rear ends I8 of the H-shaped pit opening 14, for a purpose which will appear later.

Since the chassis-engaging devices H] are of a like construction and similarly assembled with a framemember l3, only one of such devices will be referred to in detail in the following descrip tion. I

1 A device 1- (Figs; 2 and 3), includes 'a flat body or base'member I9, ofa's'ubstantially rectangular shape, formed in'its bottom side with a pair of oppositely arranged guide ways 2! adapted to slidably receive therein the outer edges 22 of the upper web 23'of the I-beam or frame member l3. A supporting pin 24 (Fig. 3), integrally formed with a head member 25, has its lower end extended within an opening 2l," formed substantially centrally of thebase member E9, to a position such that the lower edge thereof "is substantiallyflush with the upper ends ofthe guide ways 2|. The pin 24 is rigidly fixed to the base member [9 by securing its lower end with the and sixty degrees in a plane parallel with the plane of the base I9. An upright adapter plug 3! is integrally formed at its lower end with :an annular cavity or socket 32 adapted to receive the upright bearing support 29 such the. top end of the support 29 is in bearing engagement with the bottom 33 of the socket 32.

In the operation of the lift, abus is-driven 4 changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle lift having a vehicle supporting structure including a pair of transversely spaced longitudinaillyzextended frame members, vehicleengaging devices .for said frame members including base members movably carried on said frame members for movement longitudinally thereof, coacting means on said frame members and said base members for locking said base members against tilting movement relative to said frame members at any moved position of said base memhers, horizontal arm members rotatably sup ported atone end on said base members, with thelower sides of the arm members, at the one thereover when the lift is in its lowered position shown in Fig. 2. The base members l9 are then moved longitudinally of the frame members It, concurrently with a rotation of the arms 28, to locate the adapters 31 at positions providing for .their reception within lift pads 34 carried in a frame members i 3, by virtue, of the .slidable move.-

ment of the base members L9 longitudinally of the frame members 13, and the rotation of the arm members '28 through an angular distance of three hundred and sixty degrees, so that the adapters 3i are positionable to either side of the frame members .l3.

The adapters 3! may be of varying lengths to accommodate various chassis constructions, and the assembly of the pads 34 on the chassis at varying distances vertically on the bus chassis. By virtue of the assembly of the adapters 31 in the devices 10, by merely placing the sockets 32 over the upright supports 29, the substitution of different length adapters 31 for adaptation to varying bus constructions is readily accomplished.

Further, by reason of the reception of the adapters 34 within the side walls 36 of the pads 35, the bus is positively locked against tilting or sliding movement off from a supported 'positio on the lift.

On lowering of'the lift,'and driving of the bus off therefrom, the devices l0 are removed from the lift by sliding them rearwardly out of supported positions on the frame members l3. This removal is provided by the spaced relation of the rear ends I! of the members I3 with the rear ends it of the pit opening M, Conversely the devices 50 may be assembled'with the frame members it, at a lowered position of the lift, or at any elevated position of the lift. As a result, of this 1 simple and ready removal of the devices 10 from the frame members l'3, the lift when lowered may be maintained entirely free of any upright obstruction, so that. all parts thereof are at a, substantially floor level position.

Although the invention has been described'wi-th respectto a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since cal end thereof, being adapted for bearing engagement with the upper sides of said base members in all moved positions of said arm members, and upright members .at the free ends of said arm members adapted to engage portions of the chassis of a vehicle to belif-ted.

2. In a vehicle lift having a vehicle supporting structure including a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extended frame members, vehicle engaging devices for said frame members including base members movably supported on the upper sides of said frame members for movement longitudinally thereof, horizontal arm members rotatably supported at one end on said base members at positions substantially centered between the lateral sides of said frame members to provide for the movement of the free ends of said arms to positions spaced outwardly from either side of said frame members, means supporting said armsagainst up and down tilting movement .at all moved positions therefor, and upright vehicle engaging members at the free ends of said arms.

3. In a vehicle lift including a vehicle supporting structure having a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extended frame members, vehicle engaging devices including base members slidably supported on the upper sides of said frame members for movement longitudinally thereof, coacting means on said base members and frame members for locking said base members against tilting movement relative to said frame members in all moved positions of said base members, fiat bearing portions on the top sides of said base members, shafts on said base members extended upwardly from said bearing portions, horizontal arms rotatably supported at one end on said upright shafts, with the lower sides of the one endof said :arms being constructed for bearing REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PAT TS Number Name Date 1,832,938 Leach Nov. 2&, 1931 2,011,766 Johnston Aug. 20, 1.935 2,072,019 vAtti et al. Feb. 23., 1937 2,080,481 Hott May 18,, 1937 

